Order picker pallet

ABSTRACT

A pallet is disclosed for use with an order picker truck equipped with a pair of tines and a pallet clamp between the tines. The pallet has a deck with upper and lower surfaces, first and second tine channels on the lower surface, first and second tine clamps, and an actuator means in communication with the tine clamps. The actuator means is movable between an open and closed position by the order picker truck pallet clamp, whereby moving the actuator to the closed position moves the tine clamps to the clamping position. A spring in communication with the tine clamps urges the clamps towards their retracted position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1). Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to material handling involving order picking. In particular, the invention provides enhanced safety for order picker operators.

(2). Description of the Prior Art

Order picker operators use forklift like vehicles known as order picker trucks to pick products from warehouse shelves in order to fill a customer order. Products needed to fill a customer order are typically stored on warehouse shelves that can reach heights of thirty feet or more. Quite frequently, the order picker operator must be lifted to these dangerous heights to pick products to fill various orders.

While driving the order picker truck down a warehouse aisle, the operator typically stands on a platform attached to the front of the order picker. A pallet rests on the tines of the order picker truck just beyond the operator platform. Once the operator has driven the order picker truck to a desired location in a warehouse aisle, the order picker truck is stopped. If the product to be picked is located above the reach of the operator, the operator platform and pallet are raised to put the operator at the level of the product to be picked. Once the operator is at a proper level, the operator steps forward onto the pallet carried by the order picker tines.

Stepping forward onto the pallet poses a significant danger to the operator because the typical pallet will rock forward or side-to-side slightly as the pallet and operator's center of gravity shifts. Unfortunately, this rocking motion results in unstable footing that may cause the operator to lose his or her balance as they reach to a shelf or place a picked product on the pallet. Falling from the pallet can result in serious injury or death. Accordingly, a need exists for an order picker pallet, which provides stable footing for an operator while the operator is picking a product from a warehouse shelf or placing the product on the pallet adjacent the operator platform.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses this need by providing an order picker pallet that presents stable footing to the operator. In particular, the present invention is an order picker pallet that when compared to ordinary pallets, provides superior stability and footing for an operator stepping forward onto the pallet while the pallet is carried on the tines of an order picker truck. The pallet is to be used with order picker trucks having a pallet clamp. The typical order picker pallet clamp comprises two half-moon shaped projections that are centrally located between order picker tines and are used to engage a center beam member of a typical wooden pallet.

The present invention is a pallet for use with an order picker truck equipped with a pair of tines and a pallet clamp between the tines. The pallet generally comprises a deck having upper and lower surfaces, first and second tine channels on the lower surface, first and second tine clamps, and an actuator means in communication with the tine clamps. The actuator means is movable between an open and closed position by the pallet clamp, whereby moving the actuator to the closed position moves the tine clamps to the clamping position. A spring in communication with the tine clamps constantly urges the clamps towards their retracted position.

It is preferred for the deck to be rectangular with front, rear, and side edges. The side edges include rub rails. The deck upper surface is a non-skid surface, preferably covered with raised bumps like those found on diamond plate. A deck centerline is parallel to the side edges. The first and second tine channels are on either side of the deck centerline and are parallel to the deck side edges at positions approximately halfway between the deck centerline and each respective side edge. Both tine channels are bounded by a pair of elongated plates that extend outwardly from and perpendicular to the deck lower surface. Preferably, each tine channel plate has a length that extends from the deck rear edge to the deck front edge. Each tine channel plate also has a height that is at least equal to the thickness of a tine to be accommodated by its respective tine channel. Each pair of channel plates are separated by a distance slightly larger than the width of the tine that will engage each respective tine channel. Preferably, a tine cover plate caps each pair of channel plates to contain the tines whenever they engage the tine channels. It is also preferable that the tine cover plates incline slightly towards the deck lower surface from the deck rear edge towards the deck front edge. The cover plates have a length that reaches about three-quarters the length of the tine channel plates.

First and second tine clamps, one for each tine channel is pivotably mounted between each pair of tine channel plates just beyond the forward extents of the tine cover plates. The tine clamps are pivotable within their respective tine channels towards the deck lower surface to fasten the order picker deck to the tines to prevent the deck from rocking on the tines as a person walks across the deck while picking an order. Preferably, each of the tine clamps comprises a bracket that is pivotably attachable to the pallet deck and a roller rotatably attachable to the bracket. The tine clamp rollers engage the order picker truck tines whenever the tine clamps are in their clamping position.

An actuator means is in communication with the tine clamps. The actuator is moveable between open and closed positions by the order picker pallet clamp. The actuator is in the closed position whenever the order picker truck tines are fully engaged with the first and second tine channels. As the actuator is moved to its closed position, the tine clamps move to their clamping position, thereby clamping the pallet firmly to the order picker truck tines.

It is preferred that the actuator comprises two L-shaped arms that are pivotably mounted to the deck lower surface on opposite sides of the deck centerline and are located near the rear edge of the deck. The L-shaped arms have a linkage-connecting end and an order picker pallet clamp-engaging end. The pallet clamp-engaging ends are paddle like and are separated by a divider plate centered on the deck centerline. A stop for the order picker pallet clamp abuts the paddle divider plate. Linkages of cables or rods connect the L-shaped arms to the tine clamps. Whenever the order picker's pallet clamp engages the paddles of the L-shaped arms, the paddles pivot towards the deck centerline forcing the connection ends of the L-shaped arms toward the rear edge of the deck. This action pulls the linkages rearward, which in turn pivots the tine clamps into their clamping position towards the lower surface of the deck. In this clamping position, the tine clamps take up space within the tine channels to prevent the deck from rocking on the tines as a person walks on the deck. A spring attached to the deck near the deck front edge is connected to the tine clamps to urge them out of the tine channels whenever the order picker pallet clamp disengages the paddles of the L-shaped arms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the order picker pallet showing its upper surface.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the order picker pallet showing its lower surface.

FIG. 3 is a partial view of the order picker pallet detailing the tine clamps.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the order picker pallet showing the actuator means in the closed position.

FIG. 5 is a partial view of the order picker pallet detailing the actuator means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the views.

In the preferred embodiment beginning with FIG. 1, a pallet 10 comprises a rectangular deck 12 having upper 14 and lower 16 surfaces and rub rails 18. A deck centerline 20 is parallel with rub rails 18. Upper surface 16 is covered by raised bumps 19 to create a non-skid surface.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a first tine channel 26 and a second tine channel 28 are located on lower surface 16 and are on opposite sides of deck centerline 20. A first tine clamp 30 and a second tine clamp 32 have a retracted position 34, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and a clamping position 36, shown in FIG. 4. Referring back to FIG. 3, each of tine clamps 30 and 32 is comprised of a bracket 38 that is pivotably attachable to pallet deck 12 and a roller 40 rotatably attachable to bracket 38. Stops 35 restrain tines 30 and 32 from traveling beyond their retracted and clamping positions.

Referring to FIG. 5 an actuator means 42 is in communication with tine clamps 30 and 32 through the use of linkages 44. Tine clamp 32 is not visible in FIG. 5. Actuator means 42 comprises two L-shaped arms 46 that are pivotably mounted to deck lower surface 16. Each of the L-shaped arms 46 has a linkage-connecting end 48 and a pallet clamp-engaging end 50. A divider plate 52 separates pallet clamp engaging ends 50. A stop 54 for the order picker truck pallet clamp abuts divider plate 52.

In operation, an order picker truck operator drives the tines of the truck into tine channels 26 and 28. As the truck tines begin to fully engage tine channels 26 and 28, the truck pallet clamp pushes clamp engaging ends 50 towards divider plate 52 and into an actuator closed position 56. As shown in FIG. 4, this action forces L-shaped arms 46 to pivot in a direction that moves linkage connection ends 48 to pull linkages 44, which pivots tine clamps 30 and 32 into their clamping position 36. Tine clamp rollers 40 hold the truck tines against deck lower surface 16 as long as actuator means 42 is in closed position 56 held by the trucks pallet clamp.

Whenever there comes a time to remove pallet 10 from the truck tines, the operator will lower pallet 10 to the ground and back up the order picker truck. Friction between the ground and pallet 10 will allow the truck tines to roll on tine clamp rollers 40. As the truck pallet clamp disengages actuator means 42, a spring 58 and spring linkages 60 will urge tine clamps 30 and 32 into retracted position 34. The operator continues to back the order picker truck away from pallet 10 until the truck tines completely emerge from tine channels 26 and 28.

It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, the invention is not limited by the description of the preferred embodiment, but is limited only by the scope of the following claims. 

1. A pallet for use with an order picker truck equipped with a pair of tines and a pallet clamp between the tines, said pallet comprising: a) a deck having upper and lower surfaces; b) first and second tine channels on said lower surface; c) first and second tine clamps, each of said clamps having retracted and clamping positions; and d) an actuator means in communication with said tine clamps, said actuator means being movable between an open and closed position by said pallet clamp, whereby moving said actuator to said closed position moves said tine clamps to said clamping position.
 2. The pallet of claim 1, wherein said upper surface is a non-skid surface.
 3. The pallet of claim 1, further including at least one spring in communication with said tine clamps to urge said clamps towards said retracted position.
 4. The pallet clamp of claim 1, wherein said first and second tines clamps are in communication with said actuator through linkages.
 5. The pallet clamp of claim 4, wherein said linkages are elongated rods.
 6. The pallet of claim 1, wherein each of said tine clamps comprises a bracket that is pivotably attachable to said pallet deck, a roller rotatably attachable to said bracket.
 7. The pallet of claim 1, wherein said actuating means comprises first and second L-shaped arms pivotably mounted to said deck lower surface, each having a linkage connecting end and a pallet clamp engaging end.
 8. The pallet of claim 1, wherein said deck further includes tine clamp stops corresponding to the tine retracted and clamping positions.
 9. The pallet of claim 1, wherein said deck is made from aluminum.
 10. A pallet for use with an order picker truck equipped with a pair of tines and a pallet clamp between the tines, said pallet comprising: a) a deck having upper and lower surfaces; b) first and second tine channels on said lower surface; c) first and second tine clamps, each of said clamps having retracted and clamping positions; d) an actuator means in communication with said tine clamps, said actuator means being movable between an open and closed position by said pallet clamp, whereby moving said actuator to said closed position moves said tine clamps to said clamping position; and e) at least one spring in communication with said tine clamps to urge said clamps towards said retracted position.
 11. The pallet clamp of claim 10, wherein said first and second tines clamps are in communication with said actuator through linkages.
 12. The pallet clamp of claim 11, wherein said linkages are elongated rods.
 13. The pallet of claim 10, wherein each of said tine clamps comprises a bracket that is pivotably attachable to said pallet deck, a roller rotatably attachable to said bracket.
 14. The pallet of claim 10, wherein said actuating means comprises first and second L-shaped arms pivotably mounted to said deck lower surface, each having a linkage connecting end and a pallet clamp engaging end.
 15. The pallet of claim 10, wherein said deck further includes tine clamp stops corresponding to the tine retracted and clamping positions.
 16. The pallet of claim 10, wherein said deck is made from aluminum diamond plate.
 17. A pallet for use with an order picker truck equipped with a pair of tines and a pallet clamp between the tines, said pallet comprising: a) a deck having upper and lower surfaces; b) first and second tine channels on said lower surface; c) first and second tine clamps, each including a roller for engaging the order picker tines and each of said clamps having retracted and clamping positions; d) an actuator means in communication with said tine clamps, said actuator means being movable between an open and closed position by said pallet clamp, whereby moving said actuator to said closed position moves said tine clamps to said clamping position; and e) at least one spring in communication with said tine clamps to urge said clamps towards said retracted position.
 18. The pallet of claim 17, wherein said actuating means comprises first and second L-shaped arms pivotably mounted to said deck lower surface, each having a linkage connecting end and a pallet clamp engaging end.
 19. The pallet clamp of claim 17, wherein said first and second tines clamps are in communication with said actuator through linkages.
 20. The pallet of claim 19, wherein said linkages are cables. 